No 'The' before Abstract Nouns!

Superlative degree ? Greatest, Smallest - + est ; finest, bravest - '+ st'

; mostbeautiful, most difficult - most - Superlative degree.

' + er' Greater, smaller, taller; '+r' Finer, braver; more

more beautiful, moredifficult - Comparative degree.

Look at this sentence:

Krishna is taller than any other boy in the
class
- sentence taller, comparative degree.

Comparative degree , 'the' ;

'taller' (Comparative degree) than

: Comparative 'than' , Comparative The .

sentence . Krishna is taller than Ramana - taller comparative degree. than

 . Comparative 'the' . Comparative than comparative 'the' .

Krishna is the taller of the two(

).
taller - comparative degree - than . , taller (comparative) , the .

a) She is cleverer than any other girl in the group ('cleverer' followed by 'than' - so no 'the' before cleverer).
b) She is the cleverer of the two. ( ).

no 'than' after cleverer, so 'the' before cleverer.

Soman: Seshu failed the exam. (Seshu ).

Mohan: (I am) Not surprised at all. He is lazy. The lazy can never pass. ( .

pass .)
.

Soman: No. It all depends on luck. The lucky get what they want, hard work or no hard work. (.

.

,
, .)

, the lazy, the lucky ?

lazy, lucky, adjectives

(,
, ,

.
lazy = , , Lucky =

/
).
Adjective 'the' ,

a) The rich and the poor are the same to god.

(rich = ; The rich = ; Poor = ; the poor =
).
b) The hardworking always come up.
(Hardworking =
; The Hardworking = /
.)

, 'the' .

a) The dog is a faithful animal = ( ) ().

b) The lion is courageous = ( ) ().

Nandan: Gold is becoming costlier and costlier day by day. (

.)

Bhargav: Those who buy it are also increasing. But the worry is even petroleum prices are rising. (

. ,
.)
Nandan: With it the prices of iron and steel, of other things like rice and wheat also go up, life becomes difficult -
( , ; , .
.)
Bhargav: Does gold give you happiness? On the otherhand it makes you sleepless. Keeping it safe caused a lot of
worry.
( ?
.

).
Nandan: The little gold that we can buy need not worry us. ( .)

a) Gold is becoming costlier.

b) Petroleum prices are rising.
c) The prices of iron and steel.
d) Of other things like rice and wheat.
 Gold, Petroleum, Iron, Steel, Rice, Wheat - . a/ an/ the .

material nouns .

: Material nouns , 'the'

Cotton is grown in India (

- )

Cotton () , 'The' .

Coffee is made from coffee powder, milk and sugar, ( , , )

, 'The' .
, . abstract nouns .
Beauty gives us happiness ( ) , - ? abstract

nouns. 'The' .

Nisanth: Where do you go at 9 every morning?

Vidaya: Dont you know? I am a student. I go to school. (?
. .)
Nisanth: This morning just when you started for school my dad, an asthma patient, started for hospital. (

,

).

Udaya: Mom went to temple to do puja too. (

).
: To school, for hospital, to temple - school, hospital, temple 'The' . .

School, College, hospital, Temple, Church, bed

'The' .
a) School/ College (
/ , )

b) Hospital (/ )

c) Temple, Church, Masjid (,

)
d) Bed ( ). School
/ He/ She goes to school.

A: What are Your Children? (

?)
B: They go to school. (

)
Look at the following:
 No 'The' before the main meals of the day.
( 'The' ).

I have breakfast at 8 in the morning.

She invited me to lunch/ dinner/tea tomorrow.

Wife: The teacher beat our son black and blue.

(

)

Beat blue and black =

Father: What kind of teacher is he? What sort of teaching is his?
( ? ?)

sort = kind =

What/ that/ This kind of/ Type of/ sort of/ manner of
Kind of/ Type of/ sort of/ manner of
a/ an/ the .

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with 'a/an' and 'the' where necessary. If 'a/an' and/the are not necessary mark '0'
(Zero).
1) __________ cellphone is __________ useful device. device=

2) This is __________ book __________ teacher has told us to buy.

3) __________ gold is __________ precious metal, and has been __________ cause of many
wars. Precious =

4) 4) Don't waste __________ time. Go to __________ doctor immediately. Your fever has not come down.
5) 'Are you new to this place?' ' Yes. This is __________ first time I am out on __________ plane.
____________ sky is blue and __________ whether, pleasant. Pleasant= 'Wish you _______

happy flight' (flight = )
6) __________ sun is __________ big globe of __________ burning gasses, __________ scientists say.
7) __________ Pacific is ___________ deepest Ocean.
8) __________ higher you climb, __________ colder you feel. (
, ).
9) Last year, __________ earthquake levelled all ___________ buildings in _____ area. _________ number
of deaths was put at 2000.
10. 'Why don't you sing __________song?' '__________ song I can sing is not - _________ modern
type.' 'Doesn't (does not) matter. You have _________ sweet voice. It is _________ voice that is important'.
11) __________ Ganga is __________ holy river for __________ Hindus.
It is among __________ longest rivers of India.
12) 'Is Damodar at home?'. 'No. It's (It is) past 9 you see.
He is a student and he starts for __________ school at 9. I am going to __________ school to pay
__________ fees, and talk to__________ teachers there'.
13) Mr. Singh, __________ Director General of Police, is __________ honest officer. He is __________ best
officer we have had so far.
14) __________ gold is not so useful as __________ steel, though it costs more than __________ steel.
15) Gandhi believed that _________ rich should help __________ poor.
16) __________ gold found in __________ Tiruvanantapuram temple runs to lakhs of crores of rupees.
17) He is __________ poor man. He has __________ family to support.
18) __________ Nile, is supposed to be __________ longest river in _________ World.
19) Of __________ two boys that came here, __________ older one is __________ son of __________
teacher.
20) __________ Mt. Everest is __________ highest peak in __________ Himalayas.
Answers:
1. A cell phone is a useful device (cell phone, device - both of them are countable singulars. So a before each of
them).
2. This is the book the teacher has told us to buy. ('The' before book, because if you put the question - which book,
you got 111 the answer, the book the teacher has told us to buy; the before teacher because, the speaker and the
listener know about it.
? teacher ; book 'The',
teacher
, , 'the teacher').
3. 0 Gold is a precious metal, and has been the cause of many wars. [Gold, silver, rice etc are uncountables, so no
a/an/the before it. 'The' before cause - ,
, of many wars answer
).

4. Don't waste 0 time. Go to a doctor immediately. The fever has not come down. (Time 'The' .

, 'the' .
, ,

Doctor - countable singular

, a doctor. Fever , speaker , listner
, the fever).

5. The first time - first, second, third , the .

The sky- , , The . The earth, the sun, the moon etc.

The whether -
( .
, )
a happy flight - flight, countable, singular
6. The sun (sun
); is a big globe ('globe' countable singular) 0burning gasses - gasses

7. Pacific - name of an ocean, so, the Pacific; deepest - superlative degree, so,the Pacific.
8. Higher, colder - comparative degree than
, , 'The' . - the higher, ... the colder.
9. An earthquake, because, we are talking about one earthquake; the buildings,because, we are talking of
particular
() buildings [ (area) buildings]; the area, because area, the number of deaths

.

10. 'Why don't you sing a song - a song because, any/ one song.
The song I can sing - . ? . The modern type -

, the .

Sweet voice - voice, countable singular. It is the voice that ....., voice
the voice.

11. The Ganga,

a holy river - river countable singular
. The longest - longest superlative

degree
.

12. Starts for 0 school. Students

school
, school 'the' . I am going to the school, to pay the fees
and talk to
the teachers there.
((I) school , (fees
parent)
, the school.
'fees'
the fees.
teachers ( teachers?)
the teachers.

13. Mr.Sing, 0 Director General of Police (

(designation), the .)
Officer - countable singular, so an honest officer. 'Best' superlative degree, so 'the' best.
14. 0 Gold is not so useful as 0 steel, though it costs more than 0steel.
Gold, steel - countable singulars ,
, a . gold? steel? answers .
the .

15) Gandhi believed that the rich must help the poor.
, 'the' ,

.

Good = , the good =

sentence rich = . The rich =
, poor = , the poor =
.
16) The gold found in Tiruvananthapuram temple - gold?
, gold

,the gold.

18) The Nile (Nile is the name of a river

), is supposed to bethe longest (Superlative degree
) river

in the world (world =

-
).

19) Of the two boys that came here (

boys? boys
) the older (older, comparative

degree than
, a teacher - teacher
).

20) 0 Mt. Everest (Mt. Everest,

, "the" . The highest - highest superlative

degree) the Himalayas - Himalayas - (a range of mountains)

.

Grammar - 6
Kundan: Harish was here yesterday. He told me he had taken the exam. It was easy, he said. ( .

. .)

Mahesh: My sister Kamala took the exam too. She said it was easy too. I am sure they will pass. ( .

pass ).
.

Kundan: We, I mean you and I, have to wait for our exams for another week. Hope they will be easy. (,

.
.)

Look at the conversation above. Note the use of the words, I, we, you, he, she, they. pronouns . Nouns

pronouns. (Nouns ?
,
).

Nouns, Pronouns :

Noun Noun Pronou

1. I

2. /
We

3. /
You
4. Harish He
5. Kamala She
6. Exam It
7.
,

They

(e.g: Harish & Kamala, They ()

Friends, Parents & Exams)

I, we, you, he, she, it and they are pronouns. , pronouns:

1) Dad drives me to school ( school

.)/ He gave me the book ( ). Me ,
-pronouns.
2) She took us to a movie yesterday ( /
)/ She showed us the way to the
hotel ( ). Us - , , , pronouns

3) Don't go near the snake. It will kill you (

. ).
These books give you knowledge. ( /
.) You - / / / - pronouns

4) The doctor gave him/ her an injection (

/ injection .)/ The doctor examined him/ her (
/

).
5. He found it =

I gave it some polish (

) It = / / pronoun

6. We defeated them ( ).

We gave them money ( .)

She threw them away ( ).

She painted them ( ) Them = / / - pronoun

/
So, II set of pronouns:
Me, us, you, him, her, it and them pronouns . .

1) That book is mine ( - Pronoun).

2) This house is ours (

- Pronoun).
3) The toys are yours. (
)

4) The clothes are his ( ).

5) The jewels are hers ( ).

6) The elephant is a strong animal. Its trunk is very strong. (

.
).

7) This building is theirs. ( .)

8) Cars have wheels. These tiers are theirs. ( . .)

Pronouns

Pronouns
: Interrogative pronouns .
 a) What is in that box? =
?
?

b) Which of these books is yours? ?

c) Who is the President of India? ?

d) Who do you want to meet? ?

e) Whose is this pen? ( pen ?)

Who (?) Whose (?) singular verb .

Who is...?/ Who has....?/ Who goes...? Who verb,

plural .
Who are they? Who are going there?
what singular verb .

subject plural verb plural . Whois he? (he - singular verb, because 'he' is singular.)

Who are these boys? (Boys plural

, who are ...?)

Grammar - 7

1) What? (? ?);

2) Which? (?/ ? - (/ );

3) Who? (?);

4) Whose? (?)

5) Whom ? (?/ ?)

....

Interrogative pronouns.
(
- Modern English Usage Whom .

'who' .)

Interrogate pronouns
. Interrogative pronouns .

(
.. subject
, who/ what singular verb plural verb .)

Nishanth: The scenery is beautiful, isn't it? ( ?)

Angeeras: Very charming, really. It is hot down below, but on top of this hill, it is cool and comfortable.
(
. ,

, .)
Nishanth: The weather in high places is always cool.
(



.)
Angeeras: That's why rich people go to hill stations during summer.
(

.)
Nishanth: Last summer I was fortunate enough to go to Ooty. Dad in his busy time, took a fortnight off to take us there.
What a lovely place indeed!
(

.
.
?)

Angeeras: What's there in the big bag you are carrying? Isn't it heavy? Why don't you put it on the floor and carry it when you
leave?
(
? ? ,

?)
Nishanth: It has some important papers in it. I am afraid I might forget the bag if I leave it on the floor.
(

. .)
Angeeras: Don't worry; you are strong enough to carry it.
( . ?)
Nishanth: You are tall but lean. I doubt if you can carry this as easily as I do.
( . .)

Angeeras: OK. I must be going. Bye. (.

.)
Look at the following expressions from the conversation above.
1) The weather in high places is cool.
2) That's why rich people go to hill stations during summer.
3) Last summer I was fortunate enough to go to Ooty.
4) Dad in his busy time took a fortnight off.
5) What a lovely place indeed!
6) What is the big bag you are carrying?
7) Isn't it heavy?
8) It has some important papers in it.
9) I am afraid .....
10) You are strong enough to carry it.
11) You are tall, but lean.
underline . / , ?
!

1) High places =
.
high () places (
) / .

2) , The weather in high places ( ), is cool (

).
cool (
) , weather () / .

/ ADJECTIVES.
/
 Adjectives
:

7) big =

3) rich = /
8) heavy =
4) fortunate =
/
9) important =

Fortunate to be here =
.
10) afraid = / .
5) busy = .
11) tall = /
6) lovely =
/
.
12) lean = /

Adjectives. Adjectives / (tall = ); / (Hot = /

/

), / (Rich = / )
.

Adjectives nouns /
.

High places - 'High' - adjective, 'places' noun /

. rich people rich - adjective, people
noun .

Noun Adjectives.
'-ing' forms (Walking, singing ) noun
. adjectives .

e.g.: a) A walking stick (stick noun

, walking adjective).

b) Waiting passengers =
.

- passengers noun
'waiting' adjective.

c) The sinking ship =

Ship noun sinking (-ing form) - adjective

d) Running train - - Running (-ing form) - adjective, train - noun.

'_ing' form adjective

, past participles adjectives . (past participles - sing verb ,
sung; give verb given; go gone - past participles - V3 PP ). Past participles (PP)

, '_ing' form , noun .

, Past participles adjectives.
verbs past participles -ed, -d, -t PP form :

talk - PP - talked; love - PP - loved; smell - PP - smelt).

PP adjectives .

a) Cooked food ( ) - Cooked (PP), food

cooked (PP), adjective.

b) Torn clothes (
) - Torn () PP, clothes
, 'torn' - adjective.
c) Damaged car: Damaged (PP), adjective, qualifying the noun car.
d) A painted wall - painted (PP)- adjective and wall noun.
Adjectives :
1) Noun :

The beautiful building is my uncle's. (

.)
adjective 'beautiful', noun, building .

2) Adjectives sentence .

The building is beautiful - 'beautiful' noun sentence :

Noun adjectives . : Afraid. An afraid child child (noun) adjective afraid .

English ( ) Adjectives (
.

parts of speech
suffixes (singular, suffix) :)
1. _al : Accidental, medical, personal.....
2. _ful: Beautiful, wonderful, successful
3. _ic: Historic, Photographic, basic
4. _ical: Historical, magical, practical
5. _ish: foolish, childish, selfish
6. _less: senseless, useless, homeless
7. _ly: friendly, costly, daily
8. _ous: poisonous, dangerous, zealous
9. _y: cloudy, rainy, funny
10. _able: Notable, eatable, laughable
11. _ible: forcible, flexible, sensible
12. _en: frozen, darken, shorten
, Adjective prefixes . .

Adjectives / .

/

. ,
/ , ? adjectives ?

Degrees of comparison .

Comparison - ; Degree - (Degree) , .)

The elephant is a big animal. sentence 'animal'

big, adjective. .
The elephant is bigger than the lion:
(
) - . Comparison .

The elephant is the biggest of all the animals -

.
.

big bigger, biggest

, . Degrees of comparison of adjectives .

Degrees, :

Positive Degree
a) (/) .

e.g.: No other animal is as big as the elephant. (

.) ( )
 b) , /
: / (
) .
The lion is not so/ as big as the elephant (
- - '
.)
Comparative
a)
:
The elephant is bigger than the lion
(
.)

b) .

The elephant is bigger than any other animal/ all other animals.
( /
.
Superlative

, Superlative degree . Superlative .

The elephant is the biggest animal/ the biggest of all animals/ the biggest animal of all.

Grammar 8

Everest is the highest Mountain

Rahul: Certainly Sankar is the greatest singer we have, isn't he?

( , ?)
Kuber: Of course, his voice is better than that of any other singer.
(.
.)

Rahul: I agree with you there. Further no other singer's voice is as clear as his.
( .
,
.)
Kuber: The only problem, however, is that his interest in music, is not as deep as that of other singers.
(
...

.)
Rahul: His father was one of the greatest violinists of his time. No doubt he takes after his father.
(


. .)
Kuber: Only, he lacks his father's devotion to the art.
(
)
The elephant is the largest animal in the world.
 (
) - Superlative degree

, Comparative degree, Positive degree
:

Now look at the following sentences from the

conversation above.
Sankar is the greatest singer we have.
(
)-
great ''greatest' superlative degree. Comparative

, greater .

Comparative degree: Sankar is greater than any other singer/ all other singers we have. (

Positive degree: No other singer we have is as/so great as Sankar.

( .)

Imp: adjective syllable , Adjectives Comparative, Superlative degrees . (Syllable = )

(word) Syllable/Syllables . Syllable .

Syllable = Vowel sound (Vowel letter ) letter combination.

e.g.: 'big' - /bIg/ - syllable . Vowel sound ''

.

'Cook'- syllable - Vowel Sound '' .

'Decide' - two syllables . 1) De 2) cide

Construction Three Syllables . 1) con, 2) struc 3) tion.

adjective , comparative, superlative , syllables ,
.

1. 'e' syllable adjectives 'er', 'est' comparative, superlative degree .

Positive Comparative Superlative
high higher (+er) highest (+est)
small smaller (+er) smallest (+est)
2. 'e' adjectives '+r' Comparative, '+st' Superlative .
Positive Comparative Superlative
fine finer (+r) finest (+est)
brave braver (+r) bravest (+est)

3.
(short) syllable , single consonant
, consonant
'+er' , comparative, '+est'

superlative degree .
Positive Comparative Superlative
big bigger (+ger) biggest (+gest)
thin thinner (+ner) thinnest (+nest)

4. 'y' consonant sound adjectives , y '+ier' comparative, '+iest' superlative degree

.

Positive Comparative Superlative

easy easier (+ier) easiest (+ iest)
holy holier (+ier) holiest (+ iest)

5. Three syllables adjectives more Comparative, most Superlative degree .

Positive Comparative Superlative
beautiful: more beautiful most beautiful
difficult: more difficult most difficult

6. adjectives Comparative, Superlative .

,

Positive Comparative Superlative

bad/ill worse worst
good better best
little less least
many/much more most
far farther farthest

7. Superior (), Inferior (

), Senior (/
), Junior (/ ), Prior ( )-

adjectives Comparative degrees. Superlative, Positive degrees . 'to'

, than .

e.g.: a) Team A is superior to team B

(A
, B )

b) Team B is inferior to team A
(B
, A )

c) Gandhi was senior to Nehru
 (
)
/

d) Nehru was junior to Gandhi

(
/ )

e) Indian Independence was prior to Gandhi's death

( )

, , . , degree

degree .
.

Model No 1:
/
, / .

Superlative: Everest is the highest mountain in the world. (

)

-
.

: Superlative degree 'the' .

Everest is the highest of all mountains in the world/ Everest is the highest mountain of all in the world .

Some more examples of superlative degree.

a) Kolkata is the largest city in India/ the largest city of all in India/ the largest of all cities in India.

b) Kumar is the tallest boy in the class/ Kumar is the tallest of all boys in the class/ Kumar is the tallest boy of all in the class.
c) India is the largest democracy in the world/India is the largest of all democracies in the world/ India is the largest democracy of
allin the world.
model superlative degree / /
.

comparative
.

1. Kolkata is larger than any other city/ all other cities in India
( /
).
model comparative .

Comparative degree + than + any other city/ than + all other citiesin India.
model positive
.
No other city in India is as large as/ so large as Kolkata.
( /
/)

Superlative: The + superlative degree of the adjective.

Comparative: Comparative degree + than any other/ all other.
Positive: No other... so/ as + positive + as ...

Grammar 9
 It is one of the best novels

Prasen: I've just finished reading a novel. Certainly it is one of the best novels I have read.
( . ).

Seshagiri: How about lending it to me? I like to read it too.

( ? ).
Prasen: I will. But be sure to return it as soon as you can, you are
one of the laziest friends I have. You take a long time to finish a
book.
( .
.

.)

Seshagiri: Very few of my friends are as unpleasant as you. None of them are so open as you in faulting others.
(


.


.)
Prasen: Take my words in the right spirit. Precisely because I am your friend, I am so open with you.
(
. , .)

Seshagiri: Hand the book here. I'll start reading it immediately and finish it in a few days.
( .
.)

Look at the following sentences from the conversation above

a) It is one of the best novels.
b) You are one of the Laziest friends I have.
c) Very few of my friends are as unpleasant as you are.
We continue in this lesson, the transformation of adjectives from one degree to another.
Degrees of Comparision .

Lesson (No. - 8) :

Adjective
/ /
, () . nouns .
A tall boy - tall (
) , boy . boy .
'tall' Adjective .
Adjectives ,
. ,
. What kind of ()

, noun answer adjective.

e.g.: A long story - The word 'long' says something about/ qualifies the noun. To know whether a word is adjective or not, put the
question, 'What kind of story?' ? The answer is, a long story. So 'long' is an adjective. ?
-
'
'

'long' adjective.

Some more examples of adjectives:

a) short, good, bad, ugly, calm, thick, shine,
thin, fat, small, big, large, handsome etc.
b) All words ending in 'ful' are adjectives.
e.g.: beautiful, wonderful, shameful,
doubtful etc.
c) All words ending in 'less' are adjectives.
e.g.: pitiless, merciless, tireless, selfless,
hopeless etc.

d) All words formed by adding - 'y' to some of the words - usually nouns.
e.g.: fat () - Noun:

fatty =
- Adj;
bulk - (Noun)

bulky - - Adj.

dirt (noun) - dirty ( ).

f) All words ending in 'table'/ '+ able' are adjectives - bearable (unbearable), understandable, tolerable, fashionable, washable,
loveable etc. (+able = )

lesson degree degree :

Model - I

Superlative: He is the tallest in the class.

( ).
Comparative: He is taller than any other student/ all other students in the class.
Positive: No other student in the class is as tall as he/ so tall as he.

lesson
.

Model - II

He is one of the tallest boys in the class.

Model - I

He is the tallest -

Model - II

He is one of the tallest -

.
Model - I, Model - II ?
Model - II Comparative, Positive .
.
 Superlative: He is one of the tallest boys in the class.
Comparative: He is taller than mostother boys in the
class.
class.
Positive: Very few boys in the class are as tall as he.
class.
?

Model - III
.
Superlative: He is not the tallest boy/ not one of the tallest boys in the class.
(
.)

Comparative: Some boys in the class are taller than he.

( = .)/ He is not taller than some other boys in the class.

Positive: Some boys in the class are atleast as tall as he (is).
(

).
models
.

Degrees of Comparision Practice .

model . / .

(
models Compare more than 2 persons/objects.)

Mumbai is larger than Chennai. Here, only two cities are compared. So there is no superlative.
Comparative: Mumbai is larger than Chennai.
(


).
 Positive degree,

.
Positive: Chennai is not as/so large as Mumbai.
: model Comparative 'not' . Positive 'not' . Comparative 'not' , Positive 'not' .

model , , , degree degree , degree , degree ,

. .
Comparative: Venkat is taller than Karim.
( Venkat , Karim , 'not' .)

Positive: Karim is not so/as tall as Venkat.

? Positive , Karim , Venkat . , Comparative not Positive 'not' .

model. When we compare only two persons/ things.

Look at the other model of comparision between two:

Comparative: Saran is not taller than Mahesh.
( ).

: Comparative 'not' , Positive subjects, Saran and Mahesh , not .

atleast .
Positive: Mahesh is atleast as tall as Saran.
(
).
Grammar 10

Manorama is cleverer than Nidhi

Snigda: Manorama seems to be quite clever, doesn't she?

(
,
?)

Manjula: No seeming Snigda, she is. In fact, she is the cleverest girl in
the class.
( .
. ,

.)

Snigda: I thought Nidhi was the cleverest. How does she stand in comparison with the others in the class?
(
. ?)

Manjula: Nidhi is clever too. She is however one of the cleverest, not the cleverest.
A few other girls in the class are as clever as she.
(
,

.
.)
Snigda: So your point is: Manorama is the cleverest girl in the class, and Nithya is one of the cleverest girls in the
class, isn't it?
( ;


. ?)

Manjula: Exactly.
(
.)

Snigda: You mean as well that Manorama is cleverer than Nithya too.
(
.)

Manjula: What about Pujitha?

( ?)

Snigda: She is not one of the cleverest girls in the class.

(
.)

Manjula: Any doubt?

(?)
Now look at the following sentences...
1) Manorama is the cleverest girl in the class.
(
.)

2) Nidhi is one of the cleverest girls in the class.

( .)

3) Manorama is cleverer than Nidhi.

(
.)

4) Pujitha is not one of the cleverest girls in the class.

(
.)

Explanations

Sentence No . 1 superlative degree degrees

.
Models
. Superlatives ............
1) One of the Cleverest.
2) Not the cleverest.
, Models
/ (Comparison) .
Manorama is cleverer than Nidhi.
(
.)

1st Model degrees .

:
Superlative: Manorama is the cleverest girl/ of
all girls in the class.
Comparative: Manorama is cleverer than any
other girl/ all other girls in the class.
Positive: No other girl in the class is as/ so clever
as Manorama.

Model
:

Superlative: Nidhi is one ofthe cleverest girls in

the class.

(
.)

Comparative: Nidhi is cleverer than most other girls in the class.

(
.)

Positive: Very few girls in the class are as clever as Nidhi.

(


.)

Superlative: One of the most/ one of the best/ one of the + superlative.
Model Comparative:

Comparative: Comparative degree + than + most other + plural.

Model

Positive: Very few .... + as + positive degree + as .....

(Very few books are as interesting as the Mahabharatham.)
Model 3: Pujitha is not the cleverest girl in the class - Superlative.
(not + superlative degree)
Comparative: Some other .... comparative degree + than.
Positive: Some other ..... + at least as + positive + as.
Model 4 & 5: Here the comparison is only between two (
/). Superlative .

...

1) Superlative Degree .

2)
. Comparative first subject, positive ; Comparative subject,

positive .
3) Comparative not , Positive not . Comparative not Positive not .
e.g.: Manorama is cleverer than Nidhi - Comparative.
(A) (B)
Positive: Nidhi is not as clever as Manorama.

....

1) Degree ,
.

2) Comparative not . Positive not .

Model 5: Nidhi is not cleverer than Manorama.
(
) - Comparative.

Positive: Manorama is at least as Nidhi.

(
.)

Look at the following examples for better understanding.

MODEL - 1

Superlative: Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India.

(Note 'the' before the superlative degree.)
Comparative: Uttar Pradesh is larger than any other state/ all other states in India.
Positive: No other state in India is so/ as large as Uttar Pradesh.

MODEL - 2

Superlative: Hyderabad isone of the

largest cities in India.
(Note: One of the + plural)
Comparative: Hyderabad islarger than
most othercities in India.
Positive: Very few cities in India are as
large asHyderabad.
 MODEL - 3

Superlative: Kavitha is not the tallest girl in the class.

Comparative: Some other girls in the class are taller than Kavitha.
Positive: Some other girls in the class are at least as tall as Kavitha.

MODEL - 4

Comparative: The Mahabharatham is longer than the Ramayanam.

Only two things are compared - so no Superlative.
Also note, no 'not' in the comparative.
Positive: The Ramayanam is not as long as the Mahabharatham.
Note: 'Not' in the positive. The position of the subjects are interchanged.

MODEL - 5

Comparative: Himavanth is not stronger

than Kanchan.
('Not' in the comparative)
(Himavanth - first; Kanchan - last.)
No superlative as only two things are compared.
Positive: Kanchan is at least asstrong as Himavanth.
(No 'not' in the positive- 'at least' in the positive.)

practice
.

For a better understanding look at the following table:

Look at the following table to know the transformation of different models:
( degree degree .)
 Do the following exercise

Change the adjectives in the following/ Express the meanings of the following using the other
degrees of comparison.
1) No other member of the team is taller than Ashok.
2) Kanchana is at least as good a singer as Nischala.
3) Kashmir is colder than any other state in India.
4) The Mahabharatham is one of the greatest books of the world.
5) A foolish friend is more dangerous than a wise enemy.
6) The pen is mightier than the sword.
7) Sugandha is taller than most other girls in the town.
8) Apples are known better than mangoes across the world.
9) This is the best pair of shoes I have had so far.
10) Some boys in the class are at least as Karim.

ANSWERS
Vocabulary 1
Sudha: Won't you do this for me? Be a good girl. Sit down at once and help me complete this assignment.

( !
?
.)

Sampurna: What's' the hurry now? Is it to be done

immediately? Today is Friday and I am sure it can wait till
Monday.
( ? ?
.
.)

Sudha: Oh, no it's already overdue. It has to be done right away as it should be submitted tomorrow by 7.30 in the
morning.
 (. . . 7.30
.)
Sampurna: That's very much like you, always late to complete. Why don't you do the assignments as soon as they
are given? You know they are urgent and have got to be done, sooner or later. Then why not sooner than later?
( , . Assignments ?

? !)

Sudha: Easier said than done, you know. Aren't you late at any time?
( . ?)

Sampurna: Me, late! Never. Once I am given an assignment, I lose no time in completing it, come rain or Sun.
(, ? .
.

.)

Sudha: Thank God, you didn't say you do it then and there.
(
. .)
Sampurna: You can say that and you won't be far wrong. I do it almost on the spot,
I mean, if I have time at the college.
( . . .)
Sudha: What's it you are having now, coffee? You seem to have made it in a jiffy.
( ? ?
.)
Sampurna: It's instant coffee, you know.
(
, ?)
Look at the following expressions from the conversation above:
1) Sit down at once.
2) It is to be done immediately.
3) It has to be done right away.
4) Why don't you do the assignment as soon as it is given?
5) I lose no time in completing it.
6) You didn't say you do it then and there.
7) I do it almost on the spot.
8) You seem to have made it in a jiffy.
9) It's instant coffee.
, .

1. At once = /

a) Your mother wants you back home at once.

( .)

b) They want to leave this place at once.

(

.)

2. Immediately = (without any delay)

a) As the baby had a fever she called the
doctor immediately.
(

.)
b) Immediately after seeing the letter he started for home.
(
.)
3. Right away = at once = - At once, right away and also straight away.

. immediately

urgency .
urgent ( ) at once, right away, straight away .

a) On hearing the news she rushed home straight away/ right away.
( ,
.)
To rush = / .

To rush something = urgent .

The air force is rushing food and clothes to the areas in floods.
(


,
.)

4. As soon as =
. , At once/ right
away/ straight away/ immediately urgency .

a) As soon as he saw the police he ran away.

( / .)

b) As soon as I go home, I will call you.

( phone .)

5. Lose no time in doing something =

( ) Lose (Present tense) - Lost (Past tense) - Lost

(Past participle).
a) When the prices came down, helost no time in buying
the car.
(
, .)

b) When she knew the secret she lost no time in passing it on to her lover.
(
.)

6.There and then/ then and there = , /

a) She saw the jewel, and thought she should have one such then
and there.
( .)

b) Vineela stand have given it to Suneethathen and there.

( .)
 7. On the spot = .

a) They want on the spot payment.

( .) (on the spot = )

b) Seeing that they did not like him, he resigned on the spot.
(
/ .)

c) The police fined the driver on the spot.
( .)

8. In a jiffy =

a) A: Don't trouble yourself. I don't want coffee (. coffee

.)
B: No trouble at all. You will have coffee in a jiffy.
(Trouble . .)

b) However rich you are, you can't get a car in a jiffy.

( , car .)

c) Nobody becomes great in a jiffy.

(
.)
9. Instant = .

Instant coffee, Instant map . .

a) An instant decision on such matters is impossible.

(
.) (Decision =
)
b) The minute I saw him I had an instant dislike for him.
(
.)

- instantaneous

The accident caused his instantaneous death.
(
.)

a) In no time: Sulekha heard the news of her friend's

success and was in no time was congratulating her.
( .)

b) It's time for my train and in no timeI will be leaving for

the station.
(
, .)

, /
expression - right off.
a) The minute the teacher asked the question, he gave the answer right off.
(
.)
b) I cannot say right off when I will be starting my business.
(
/ .)

. Right off my head, (

, )
a) Is he a computer to give you the information right off his head?
( / ?)
b) He is so through with the subject that he can tell you anything about itright off.
( .) As soon as = phrase

No sooner... than . No sooner... than subject verb

?

As soon as he bought the book, he started reading it.

(
.)
As soon as , No sooner than .

No sooner did he buy the book, than he started reading it.

: As soon as he bought the book = No sooner did he

buy the book.

Bought = did buy , did subject 'he' . , No sooner than , sooner,

comparative degree
.
As soon as he bought the book, he started reading it = No sooner did he buy the book than he started reading it.
As soon as he saw me, he came to me =
No sooner did he see me than he came to me
No sooner , Hardly... When/ Scarcely... when .

As soon as he saw me, he came to me = No sooner did he see me, than he came to me = scarcely/ Hardly did he see
me, when he came to me.
Instant, Immediate, Instantaneous ()
''swift'.
The police action was swift and all the demanstrators were scattered.
(

.)
scatter =

Vocabulary 2

Sanjana: I knew only recently that you are into acting. How about acting in a play with us on the college day?
( ,
. ?)
Kundana: Nothing is more to my liking. What's the play and when are the rehearsals?

(

. ?
?)

Sanjana: But I'm afraid it might not go down well with

your parents. They are rather traditional, aren't they?
(



.



?)
Kundana: But I am keen on an acting career. I think I can convince them.
( .
.)
Sanjana: The play we are going to stage appeals to the youth, we are sure. The di - alogues, I am sure, they will
adore too.
(
.

.)

Kundana: And what role is mine ?

(
?)
Sanjana: That's going to be something you can't resist. I am certain of that. I thought of doing it myself, but I'm
sure it suits you better than me. So I am not averse to passing it as to you..
(
. .
.
.
.)
Kundana: What exactly is the role? I'm afraid you are talking much and saying little.
(
?
.)
Sanjana: Well, this is it. You act the role of a young woman who is very fond of her younger brother. She is very
attached to him. Enter a young man who steels her heart.
( .

.
.



.)
Kundana: So what happens next? Where is the challenge in the role?
( ? ?)
Sanjana: Why don't you listen? you endear yourself to this young man so much that he is prepared to die for you.
And here comes the rub the young man and your younger brother knew each other earlier. They had a quarrel over
something and are averse to each other.
( ?

. , .

. , .


.

.)

Kundana: So there lies the conflict, doesn't it (,

)
Sanjana: Yea. You are torn between your passion for this young man, and your fond- ness for the brother. The
hero also comes to know you have a soft spot for this brother of yours.
(.

,
.

.)

Kundana: What does he do then?

( ?)

Sanjana: What pleases you pleases him too. He is ready to forgo his love so you can be happy with your brother.
Your brother too, feels he shouldn't stand in the way of your happiness.
(
,
.
.

)

Kundana: Then? (?)

Sanjana: They are reconciled and hit it off together.

(

, )
Notes:
1. Play = ( ,
.)

2. Tradition =
;
Traditional =

/
,
3. Conflict =
(
/

.)

Conflict =

Communal conflicts =

4. To be in the way of/ to stand in the way of =
/
.
Castism is in the way/ stands in the way of unity among Indians.
(
.)

5. forgo =

Now look at the following sentences from the conversation between Sanjana and Kundana.
1) You are into acting
2) Nothing is more to my liking
3) ... it might not go down well with your parents.
4) I am keen on acting career.
5) The play we are going to stage appeals to the youth.
6) That's going to be something you can't resist.
7) I am not averse to passing it on to you
8) .... a young woman who is fond of her younger brother and is attached to her
9) You endear yourself to this young man.
10) They hit it off together.

-
, , . .

English
,

.
.

1) To be into something = to be interested and like

something
=

,

a) Youngsters nowadays arevery much into computer

games.
( computer games
,
.)

b) The reality shows on the TV show how young boys and girlsare into dancing and singing.
( , ,
.)
2) Nothing is more to my liking.
To somebody's liking =

a) These stunt movies are to your liking
( .)
/
b) The way he talks is not to my liking.
(
.)
3) It might not go down well with your parents.
Go down well with somebody: / .
not
.
a) My doing medicine did not go down well with my parents.
( medicine ,
.)

b) His taking livertis with them did not go down well with them.
(

.)
4) be keen on = /

/
/
5) Appeal = /

a) A movie without dances is not appealing of the youth today.
( .)

b) The design of the building is of no appeal to the people of all ages.

(
.)

6) Resist =
/

.

a) A drunkard cannot resist the temptation of the bottle.

(
.)
b) With great difficulty I resisted my urge to hit him.
(

.)

Resist
/

The agitators resisted the police attempt to arrest the leaders.

( .)

= peaceful resistance =

7) be averse to =
.

a) I am averse to late nights. (

.)
b) How can he pass? He is averse to hard work.
? . (Pronunciation = ())

8) be fond of =

a) She is fond of mangoes =

.
be fond of be averse to
9) To endear one self to somebody =

.

a) By his helping nature be endeared himself to every one.

(
.)

b) The teacher endeared herself to all her students.

(

)

10) To hit it off together =

a) From the minute they met each other they hit it off
together.
Vocabulary 3
Bhargav: Hi Anushka, which movie do you wants to go to? 'Dammunda' or "Neninthe'?
(! !
, '? '?)
Anushka: I am unable to decide. One is as good as the other, Bhanu says.
( . .)

Bhargav: So they rival each other. What are we going to do then?

( .
?)
Anushka: Let's see both, one after another. We shall see 'Dammunda' first today, and 'Neninthe' tomorrow.
(
, , ''
, ''
.)
Bhargav: That's a nice suggestion. Let's have some coffee first.
( . .)

Anushka: Oh Bhargav, you take too much coffee. Cut down on it.
(!
.
.)

Bhargav: Are you any better than me? If I am a coffee addict, you are a tea addict.
In being addicts, we are level, aren't we?
( ? ,
. ?)
Anushka: How is that? Experts say that tea isn't so harmful as coffee.
(? .)

Bhargav: I am sure, experts or no experts, that there is nothing to choose between the two.
(
,
.)
Anushka: Oh, isn't there? So let it be ok. I am not for arguing on such silly matters.
(? . .

.)
Bhargav: Coming back to the two movies we wish to see, what do you think, makes them evenly matched?
(
,
?)
Anushka: The one has a good story base, and music, and the other has good technical values. In the race for
popularity they are perhaps too close to call.
(
, ;
.

.)

Bhargav: So they are evenly matched. But Anushka, I'm afraid we are wasting too much of our time on movies;
don't you think so? Are we turning away from our studies?
( , ?

?)
Anushka: I think so too. We should learn to strike a balance between entertainment and studies.
( . , .)
Now look at the following sentences from the dialogue above.